“Oh…”
He observed her furrowed brow and smoothed it with his fingers. Bending, he kissed her hair and said, “Don’t worry, babe. We’ll talk tonight. It’ll be good, I promise.”
Hunter shook hands with Colt as he entered the Sherriff’s Office. Taking the chair offered, he asked, “Everything okay here?”
Colt nodded, his dark, intelligent eyes piercing as he leaned back in his chair. “Got about five of them in the holding cells. Brittany’s mom is detoxing at the hospital, but under arrest. Talked to the County Attorney this morning and she’s ready to kick ass and take names.”
Chuckling, he grinned. “Good. Get that section of the park cleaned up and it’ll be a great place for families.” Sobering for a moment, he sighed, saying, “Of course, people like Brittany’s mom will always find a supplier.”
“How the hell she could have offered her daughter as payment…”
They sat silent for a moment, the enormity of the situation and how it could have turned out so different, moving through them.
Finally, Colt asked, “All good with Belle?”
His eyes jumped to Colt’s, but he saw a flash of humor there. “Hope so. Got a lot of shit swirling right now with her new duties, what happened at Careway, what happened with Brittany, and all that on top of our mess.”
He noted Colt did not ask anything else, so he volunteered, “She knows we got more to talk about, but as of last night, things are a lot better.”
“Good,” he said, before asking, “Anything special bring you here today, besides all the shit from last night?”
“Told Belle I’d check with you about what she reported about the possible thefts from Careway.”
“Yeah, went to the pawn shop. The owner wasn’t real keen on talking but he was easily swayed when presented with the possibility of me parking a deputy outside his establishment.”
“Can you tell me anything? ‘Cause when she told me that she was afraid Weldon wasn’t reporting, I got suspicious about him being involved.”
“It was a young man who brought in the pocket watch and after a little more pressure, he admitted it was the same man who brought in the necklace. I did not talk to Belle about it, not wanting to involve her at this point in the investigation, but we’re looking into it. There isn’t an employee at Careway that fits the description, so we are assuming someone there is taking the items and handing them off to an accomplice who takes them to the pawn shop.” Colt pierced him with a stare, again asking, “You suspect Weldon?”
Shaking his head, he said, “From what I saw of Weldon when I was working there he is an upstanding man who manages a tight, well-run home. I never got a feeling about him that he was involved in anything negative at all, but I gotta admit, I hate like hell that he did not report the last theft when it might have been in time for you to find out who was stealing.”
“I will tell you that one of my detectives, Carson, thinks he’s located the man and is looking at his friends to see who might work at Careway.”
He cast his mind back to the employees, wondering who might be the thief.
Finishing her reports, Belle walked into the dining room at lunchtime. She smiled at the residents and other nurses. Weaving through the tables, she nodded toward Mr. Weldon who also moved around the tables, checking on the residents, joking with some, pouring water for others, and keeping conversations flowing.
She walked over to him and said, “Excuse me, Mr. Weldon. The reports that you needed were sent to your email.”
His smile widened and he gushed, “Oh, Belle, thank you so much. You are a true gem.”
“You just now figuring that out?” Mr. Rasky asked. “I could have told you that a couple of years ago!”
The others at the table laughed and Mr. Weldon nodded emphatically. “I knew it then, but know it even more now.”
He turned toward her and whispered, “Do you know where Nola is? She should be in here assisting and I haven’t seen her.”
“No, but I’ll go see if I can find her.” With his nod, she walked out of the dining room and went in search of the errant nursing aide. Checking the employee lounge, she found it empty. Turning a corner, she caught sight of Nola coming from one of the resident’s room, sticking something in her pocket.
Curious, as well as suspicious, she followed Nola as she walked down the hall, glad for her quiet, rubber-soled shoes. Reaching the next corner, she slowed and peeked around, seeing her at the back door. She watched as Nola pushed against the door bar before propping a small piece of wood in the frame to keep the door from locking behind her.
She hurried down the hall, stopping at the side of the door, peering out the window, spying Nola standing in the parking lot, staring down at what appeared to be a pearl necklace in her hand. Stunned, she realized Nola was the thief, but before she had a chance to think what to do, she watched as a black pickup truck pulled up to her and a man got out.
Gasping, she slipped outside and saw the driver hold out his hand and Nola dropping the pearls into it before standing on her toes and accepting a kiss from the young man. He slid his ball cap back from his forehead and grinned. “Looks good, Nola girl. I’ll see you tonight.”
Not wanting to lose him, she ran toward them, screaming, “Stop! Give that back!”
Nola whirled around, eyes huge, and screamed, “Shit, Frank, go! Go!”
Instead of leaving, his face hardened and he pulled out a gun, pointing it at her and firing, the sounds of Nola’s screams filling the air.
29
Hunter stood and shook Colt’s hand before walking to the door. “Thanks for everything, Colt—”
“Sheriff Hudson!” a deputy called out, rounding the corner. “Multiple calls came in of a shooting at Careway Nursing Home. Detective Carson is on the scene. The man he was tailing was making a pickup from a female employee and when approached by another employee, he shot her before taking off. We’ve got three units in pursuit and ambulance dispatched.”
His heart dropped as Colt barked, “We got a name on who was shot?”
The deputy shook his head as he headed back toward the front of the office. Hunter began running down the hall, his phone in his hand, calling Belle. No answer.
“Hunter!” Colt called out behind him.
He turned around and saw Colt jogging toward him, his phone at his ear, speaking to someone.
“Yeah, yeah. Got it. I’ll tell him.”
Observing Colt’s hard jaw, fear clawed at his throat, and he ordered, “Talk to me.”
Colt’s face fell as he said, “It was Belle. She caught someone named Nola Slidell handing off stolen jewelry to Frank Hensey, Nola’s boyfriend. Instead of leaving, Frank pulled a gun and shot Belle. We’re in pursuit of Frank and Nola’s been arrested at the scene.”
Lightheaded, his heart jolted. “Fuck! Oh, fuck. Where is she?”
“Zac’s got her in the ambulance, taking her to the hospital.”
As he started to dart out, Colt grabbed his arm. “You’re riding with me. I’ll get you there faster, I promise.”
Barely aware of the sirens blaring, he sat, numb, as Colt raced down the highway toward the hospital. The scenery passed by without his noticing, his mind solely on the woman he knew would be fighting for her life at the end of the ride.
The surgical waiting room was packed but, with a number of the visitors wearing uniforms and badges, the staff said nothing about the overcrowding.
Colt stood with Mitch, whose arm was around Tori, taking her weight as she leaned into him. Gareth and Grant had their arms around their wives, as Jillian and Katelyn held hands. Jade looked up as Lance walked in, having just been relieved by another officer. Aiden stood with Ginny and Brogan. Callan stepped off the elevator, heading straight to Zac and Madelyn.
Hunter, alone, stood by a window staring out into the night. It had been hours since Belle had been brought in, a gunshot wound to the gut. He kept one hand in his pocket, his fingers twining around the yellow hair rib
bon he still carried with him. He sucked in a ragged breath, his eyes lifting to the heavens. He had never been particularly religious, but he prayed nonetheless. For her life…for a second chance…for another sunrise with her.
Belle opened her eyes slowly, pressing her thumb on the patient-controlled analgesia pump, delivering the small, but needed, dose of morphine. Inhaling gently, she tried to ignore the pain as she turned her head to the side, seeing the sun barely peeking in through the blinds. The slim light gave evidence to a man sleeping in the chair by the window, his head reclining to the side in what must be a painfully uncomfortable position. She was awake yesterday, just long enough for her to whisper a plea for him to leave and sleep in a real bed, but Hunter stubbornly insisted he would not leave her side.
Four days. It had been four days since she stood outside of Careway, indignant at seeing Nola hand a stolen necklace and was giving it to a man. Four days since she had foolishly charged ahead to interrupt the deal. Four days since she had stared at the barrel of his gun pointed directly at her and heard the deafening sound of it being fired. Four days since she spent six hours in surgery as the doctors fought to save her life. She did not remember the first couple of days, yesterday being the first that she began to understand what was happening.
And now, she stared at the man in the chair, a heavy scruff covering his face and his hair standing on end as he had spent a great deal of time running his hand through it.
The pain medicine was easing through her system and she looked up as the door opened. One of the nurses walked over and checked her vital signs.
Bending near her, the nurse whispered, “Hey Belle. I’m Carol. I’ve been with you since the first day, but I’m sure you don’t remember me.”
“Nice to meet you,” she whispered back, unsure if her gut would hurt with the effort of talking. “How am I?”
Carol grinned. “I know you’re a nurse, so I’ll give it to you straight and then have the doctor come in a talk to you as well. The bullet missed your major organs, so the blood loss and internal trauma, as well as the surgery, is what you’ll be dealing with in your convalescence. Your vital signs are good and you’re currently on IV antibiotics to fight against possible infection.” She glanced to the PCA pump and said, “You’ve been on IV pain medication and now you can control it more yourself. The idea is to wean you off the morphine and to use it only when you need it.”
Continuing to whisper, she asked, “How long will I be here?”
“I’d say at least four or five more days, but that’ll depend on what the doctor says about your recovery and your plan for when you return home.”
“I live alone—”
“I’ll be with her to help care for her,” Hunter said, sitting up in the chair, his blue eyes penetrating the fog surrounding her.
She opened her mouth to speak, but he got there first, standing to lean over her bed, his hand, strong and warm on her forehead, smoothing her hair back. “Four days, babe. Four sunrises sitting here wondering if I was ever going to have another sunrise with you. No way in hell will I squander one more sunrise.”
She blinked, not feeling pain but having the urge to cry nonetheless. Staring at all that was him, she blinked again.
“I’ll be there,” he repeated.
As the pain medication did its magic, his hand cupping her face and his words in her ears helped her slip into another deep sleep.
“Hey, girl,” the call from the door rang out.
Belle looked up as Tori, Jade, Jillian, Katelyn, Madelyn, and Ginny walked into her hospital room. Still hooked up to several machines, with a few drainage tubes connected to her abdomen, she knew she looked like shit, but was unable to keep the smile from her face. She wanted to sit up, but moving the bed to a reclining position was the best she could do. Weakness from loss of blood kept her still most of the day and night.
They fanned out into the room, Katelyn immediately sliding into a nearby chair. Belle’s hand wandered to her hair, once more realizing how horrible she must appear.
“Stop,” Jillian said. “You look beautiful.”
Snorting, then wincing, she said, “I’m sure I don’t, but thanks all the same.”
“Well, we came armed with some things to make you feel better,” Tori said, her smile wide as she held up a few bags.
Curious, she grinned as she watched her friends pull out dry shampoo, a comb and brush, and several of her ribbons. Relaxing back into the pillow, she allowed them to pamper her as they sprayed and combed her hair before Jillian braided it, tying it off with a pink ribbon.
“Hunter said they’re getting you up to walk some today,” Madelyn said, her lifted brows indicating her surprise.
Nodding, she said, “At least to go to the bathroom.” They were ready to take the catheter after reporting she had no more blood in her urine and as much as she dreaded the pain, she wanted to get out of bed, if just to pee. Keeping this tidbit to herself, she asked, “So what else is in those bags?”
Katelyn grinned as she leaned over and pulled out body wash and deodorant.
“Oh, my goodness,” she cried, her smile widening. Her gaze then dropped to Katelyn’s smaller stomach and she gasped.
Katelyn grinned, saying, “Yep. Yesterday, we welcomed Gareth Finn Harrison into the family.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “How are you—”
Katelyn rose from her chair gingerly and moved to the bed, grasping her hand. “Shhh. I’m fine, baby’s fine. He’s sleeping right now in my mom’s arms and I can’t wait for you to meet him. I wanted to come visit before I get discharged.”
“I can’t believe you all are here,” she said, trying to keep the tears at bay.
“We’re here to pamper you,” Jade said, “so just lay back and let us do the work.”
At first self-conscious, she soon closed her eyes and allowed her friends to give her a sponge bath on her arms and legs, before she slicked on the deodorant, loving the scent of both. “This makes me feel human again,” she enthused, thanking them profusely, despite her weakness.
“Do you know when you’ll be able to get out of here?” Ginny asked.
“Not only will I start getting up and walking this afternoon, but I’m also going to start on some solid food. Probably soft, easy stuff, but they want my digestive system working, so probably about two more days.” She rolled her eyes and said, “I’m ready to be out of here, but know that it’ll be a while before I’m back to normal.”
“How are you and Hunter?” Jillian asked, her eyes mirroring the other women’s, warm with concern.
Sucking in her lips, she inhaled deeply then winced at the pain. Panting for a few seconds to ease the discomfort, she observed their concern. “Sorry, when the pain meds are working I forget to move easy.” Thinking for a moment about Jillian’s question, she finally said, “He’s been here every day. I don’t know how since he’s got a job to do in Richmond, but honestly, I haven’t asked about that. He told the nurse that he would be taking care of me when I’m discharged. I know he said he had vacation to take when he first came back, but I don’t know when that will be gone.”
“Are you okay with that?” Jade asked softly.
She fiddled with the thin hospital blanket for a moment, deciding how much to confess, before lifting her gaze and staring at each one of them. All friends. All women that she had witnessed fall in love. All women that included her in their inner circle. A slow smile curved her lips and she said, “Just before this happened, we told each other that we still loved each other. But the morning that I got shot, he had stayed with me and said that after work we needed to talk. About what we were doing. That obviously never happened, so I have no idea what his thoughts are.”
“You didn’t see him in the waiting room,” Jillian began.
Her anguished tone drew Belle’s attention.
“He was a man haunted,” Madelyn continued, sucking in a huge breath. “It gutted Zac to see him that way.”
Her gaze drif
ted down again, her heart aching. She startled when Tori squeezed her hand.
“Don’t try to figure it all out right now,” Tori advised. “You need rest, you need to heal, you need—”
“To go to the bathroom on your own,” Katelyn quipped, drawing laughter from them all.
“Oh, that hurts,” she said between giggles. Glad that Katelyn had taken them away from the heavy topic of her and Hunter, she hugged them each as they stood to leave.
Hunter kept one hand on Belle’s hip and the other around her shoulder, offering support, trying to keep from hurting her more. He observed the sheen of sweat on her pale face, her breath raspy, and her mouth tight with pain.
“I could fuckin’ kill that asshole,” he said under his breath, helping her shuffle to the bed. Twisting her body so that her back was to the mattress, he settled her, covering her legs with the blanket again.
After a few minutes of steadying her breathing, willing the pain to recede, Belle finally said, “Well, at least the good news is that I went to the bathroom.” Grimacing, she added, “It should mortify me that you helped with that, but I don’t think I have any modesty left.”
Chuckling, he bent to kiss her forehead. “Babe, I’m so fuckin’ glad you’re breathing, there’s nothing I won’t help you with.”
She watched him heft himself onto the mattress next to her and hold her gaze. “Hunter?”
“Right here, babe.”
“We were supposed to talk…that day…you know.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“That was a week ago. I know you’ve got to get back to Richmond to work—”
“Don’t worry about that.”
She pinched her lips together, huffing. “But—”
Hunter reached down and took her hands in his, rubbing his thumbs over her soft skin. “Belle, babe. You need to heal and I’m gonna be here for that. Nothing else matters. We’ll talk, but later. Right now, you concentrate on you and we’ll deal with whatever comes when it comes.” Bending closer, he asked, “Can you do that for me?”
Waiting for Sunrise: Baytown Boys Series Page 22
